Orthodontic modeling filler material

ABSTRACT

A dough-like filler material and method of use thereof. The dough-like filler is used (in lieu of more expensive, less easily handled filler materials) in the process of making plaster dental molds for dental or orthodontic use to fill voids in dental impression molds, voids which otherwise would allow for the formation of obstructive plaster accumulations in the resulting plaster dental mold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to orthodontic modeling methods and materials.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] As is the case with any service-based occupation, time is money in dentistry and orthodontics. Therefore, any method or product which expedites the delivery of services in the dental and orthodontics fields will translate into greater profitability for practitioners and, perhaps, lower cost of care for patients and insurance companies.

[0005] For a number of dental and orthodontic procedures, dental models or “impressions” are made. Models are made first by producing a rough, negative topological impression. This is taken with the assistance of a standard perforated metal or plastics tray, wherein for the impression material alginate, palgate, etc. are used. Then the topological impression is used to form a cast using hard plaster, which produces a positive topological model, which, in turn, reflects the rough topology found in the mouth or on the biting surfaces of the patient, i.e. existing or absent teeth, the shape of the jaw crest and the mucous membranes, irregularities, etc.

[0006] For certain procedures, a number of additional steps are involved, and include the creation of a negative topological tray or “functional tray”, a precise topological or “functional” impression, a precise topological or “functional” model, and an occlusion mold or bite impression, all, in some cases, leading to the creation of a final denture, plate or other dental or orthodontic appliance. However, the step(s) in which impressions in trays are used to produce plaster casts are those processes with which the present product and method are concerned.

[0007] A consequence of the inevitable design of impression trays used to make lower teeth impressions is that a large space or void exists where the tray is contoured for receiving a patient's tongue during an impression step. If left unoccluded, this void will fill with plaster during the casting process—plaster which must later be painstakingly removed to acquire adequate access and visualization of the teeth in the resulting plaster model.

[0008] Some dental and orthodontic offices use alginate (the same material that is used as the actual impression) to fill this void in the lower impression tray and, thereby, partially avoid the excess plaster problem. This is not inefficient or cost-effective solution to the problem. Alginate is not forgiving of mixing errors, often sets up more quickly than is consistent with its use after an impression is taken and to fill the void in the lower teeth tray for casting, and is somewhat expensive. Other dental and orthodontic offices simply do nothing, and, after a plaster model is made, carefully trim away the excess plaster to gain access and visualization to the pertinent portions of the model. This latter approach is extremely time-consuming and even poses a potential health risk due to the dust produced by the plaster removal process.

[0009] It would be very beneficial to dental and orthodontic practitioners to provide a method and related product which can be used in avoiding the excess plaster problems which are inherent in the use of lower teeth impression trays, and which method and related product is simple to use, very cost-effective, environmentally benign, and at least as effective as any known method or product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filler material for use with dental model impression trays in occluding space which is otherwise filled with excess plaster during a plaster model casting process.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method by which space within the bounds of a lower teeth impression tray, which is otherwise filled with excess plaster during a plaster model casting process, is occluded with a convenient and cost-effective dough-like filler material thereby obviating the problems left unsolved in the prior art.

[0012] The product of the present invention is a dough-like filler material which is used to temporarily occlude or occupy the space or void which is provided in the lower teeth impression tray for use in dental modeling for accommodating a patient's tongue. The dough-like filler material is used after an initial impression is taken and before plaster is applied to form a positive model. The presence of the dough-like filler material during the plaster casting process prevents the formation of plaster accumulations which interfere with access and visualization of the teeth portions of a plaster model.

[0013] The use of the present dough-like filler material as described provides a highly cost-effective alternative to the prior art approaches of using alginate (or other impression material) to occlude the lower teeth tray void, or the use of no occluding material followed by manual carving away of excess plaster.

[0014] The dough-like filler material of the present invention is, unlike conventional impression material, inexpensive to produce and purchase, is pre-mixed, requires no set up time, is water soluble for easy cleanup, is easy to form to any desired shape, has a very long shelf life, and is in environmentally benign.

[0015] Practice of the present invention will save time and money in the dental and orthodontic practices and pull solve problems not heretofore solved by any known prior art approach.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental impression tray prior to application of any of the filler material of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the impression tray of FIG. 1 with the filler material of the present invention applied to occlude the void otherwise present after the impression step.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plaster cast model showing a cavity left by the presence of the present filler material during the plaster casting process, a cavity otherwise filled with plaster had such a filler material not been used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] The dough-like filler material of the present invention is easily formulated. Obviously, commercial production will require proportional scale up, but a single batch “recipe” for the present filler is as follows:

[0020] 1 cup flour

[0021] ½ cup salt

[0022] 1 cup water

[0023] 2 tbsp. cream of tartar

[0024] 2 tbsp. cooking oil

[0025] 2 drops food color (optional)

[0026] 5 drops aromatic oil (optional)

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, after an initial impression is taken, and impression tray 12 will include a void 14 where a patient's tongue resided during the impression process. Referring to FIG. 2, the present filler material 10 is, according to the present invention, manually placed and formed to occlude the void 14. The plaster casting step of dental modeling follows according to conventional processes.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, a plaster model 16 is depicted and shows a large cavity 18. Cavity 18 is the product of filler material 10 having resided in void 14 of tray 12 during the plaster casting process. Had filler material 10 not been positioned as described, excess and obstructive plaster material would have occupied cavity 18 and prevented ready access and visualization of the interior surfaces of the teeth renditions of the plaster model 16.

[0029] The use of filler material 10 in the described context obviate a number of problems as already described. Filler material 10 is either substantially odor free or pleasantly scented. Once mixed, and if kept any sealed container, filler 10 exhibits a very long shelf life. Cavity 18 as rendered through the use of filler material 10 renders the resulting models 16 more useful and accurate than models made without the use of such a void occluding material, without excessive lab technician contouring and carving time.

[0030] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention.

[0031] It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A filler material for use in occluding undesirable voids in dental impression trays comprising: flour, salt, water, and oil mixed to a dough-like consistency.
 2. A method for forming a plaster dental model comprising the steps of: making a dental impression for use of a impression material-filled impression tray, said impression tray having a void for accommodating a patient's tongue; occluding said void with a dough-like filler material which comprises flour, salt, water, and oil mixed to a dough-like consistency; applying a plaster material to set dental impression for producing a plaster dental mold said dough-like filler material displacing said plaster material for preventing formation of obstructive plaster accumulations in said plaster dental mold. 